EDUCATION
Infertility Support Information Series
When we talk about fertility treatment, we often focus on protocols, results, and outcomes. But behind every cycle, every clinic visit, and every decision—there’s a person navigating a deeply emotional journey.
We created this series because we’ve seen, time and again, how overlooked the emotional side of fertility care can be. The silence. The overwhelm. The invisible weight patients carry—and the quiet strain on professionals who support them.
This collection of resources has been developed by two exceptional professionals:
Sarah Banks, a fertility coach known for her patient-centred approach and community-building, and Tracey Sainsbury, a highly experienced fertility counsellor whose clinical insight and compassion are evident in every word.
Together, they’ve created something important: a set of free, practical, and emotionally intelligent resources that reflect the reality of fertility treatment—not just what happens in the body, but what happens in the heart and mind.
Whether you are:
– A patient searching for calm in the chaos
– A partner navigating this path together
– Or a clinic team member doing your best to hold space for others while managing your own pressures
These materials are for you. They are here to:
• Help patients feel less alone
• Support professionals in offering emotionally safe care
• Encourage honest conversations around stress, support, and the mental load of treatment
• Provide accessible, expert-informed tools that can be integrated into everyday care
Emotional wellbeing is not a side note in fertility care. It is central. And it’s time we treat it that way.
We hope you find something here that resonates, that supports you, or that you can pass on to someone who needs it. Because emotional wellbeing in fertility care isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Explore the Resources
For Patients – Understanding, Coping and Finding Support
(Authored by Sarah Banks)
Supporting Different Patient Groups Through Fertility Treatment
Tailored guidance for same-sex couples, solo parents, donor recipients, and those with secondary infertility.
The Emotional and Practical Support Needed During Fertility Treatment
Support strategies that evolve with each stage of treatment, including counselling, coaching, and peer support.
Taking Control Through Your Fertility Journey
Actionable advice to regain a sense of control—emotionally, practically, and mentally.
Healing Through Connection: The Power of Infertility Support Groups
The value of peer support, shared experience, and community through group connection.
Coping With Overwhelm: Finding Calm During Infertility and IVF
Practical tools to manage anxiety, emotional fatigue, and the weight of uncertainty.
Why You Shouldn’t Believe Everything You See on the Internet During Fertility Treatment
How to spot misinformation, protect your mental health, and find trusted sources of support.
For Professionals – Supporting Patients and Teams
(Authored by Tracey Sainsbury)
Professionals – Fertility Counselling and Support
The Benefits of Fertility Counselling and Support
Why counselling matters—for resilience, patient retention, and compassionate care.
Fertility Counselling for Donor Conception Recipients and Donors
The role of implications counselling and emotional preparation in donor treatments.
The Benefits of Counselling for Fertility Clinic Staff
How support for staff wellbeing contributes to safer, more sustainable care delivery.
The Emotional Toll of Embryo Storage on Clinical Staff
Ethical, emotional, and practical considerations when managing long-term embryo storage.
For Clinics to Share With Patients – Guidance and Reassurance
(Authored by Tracey Sainsbury)
Patients – Resources and Counselling Support
The Benefits of Fertility Counselling
An in-depth explanation of how counselling helps patients process emotions, make decisions, and stay hopeful.
Making Decisions on Remaining Embryos
Clear, compassionate guidance on storage, donation, and respectful disposal.